Released on March 19, 1998
Health Minister Clay Serby today announced that immunization programsto protect seniors and children from pneumonia and whooping cough are
being expanded to reach more Saskatchewan residents.
"We are committed to investing in the health of Saskatchewan people,"
Serby said. "We all recognize the important preventive role vaccines
play in helping residents who are at risk from disease maintain their
good health."
Additional pneumococcal pneumonia immunizations will be offered in the
fall of 1998, at the same time as the annual influenza immunization
campaign. The expanded program will target residents of chronic care
facilities and other elderly residents and be actively promoted for
those currently eligible (e.g. people with chronic heart or lung
disease).
In addition, a portion of the new investment will be devoted to
providing the acellular pertussis vaccine to children. The vaccine
was added last summer to the routine immunization program for children
aged two months to six years.
The new investment is part of the 5.4 per cent increase to the
health system announced today as part of the 1998/99 provincial
budget. In all, the government is investing $1.72 billion in the
health of Saskatchewan people, Serby said.
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For more information, contact:
Jeff Brown
Communications and Public Information
Saskatchewan Health
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-4088